Summary: Electric aircraft technology is an epoch-making high-end and cutting-edge new technology. It and new-energy electric vehicles are twins, sharing the same development trajectory. It has become one of the core technologies in the world aviation industry. It changes traditional aircraft design concepts. Starting from the concepts of green environmental protection, high efficiency and energy saving, and intelligent interconnection, it optimizes the design of the entire aircraft, greatly improving the reliability, practicality, environmental friendliness, comfort, and maintainability of aircraft, and represents the development direction of future aircraft.
Electric aircraft technology is an epoch-making high-end and cutting-edge new technology. It and new-energy electric vehicles are twins, sharing the same development trajectory. It has become one of the core technologies in the world aviation industry. It changes traditional aircraft design concepts. Starting from the concepts of green environmental protection, high efficiency and energy saving, and intelligent interconnection, it optimizes the design of the entire aircraft, greatly improving the reliability, practicality, environmental friendliness, comfort, and maintainability of aircraft, and represents the development direction of future aircraft.
The core of electric aircraft technology development is electric propulsion technology. Electric propulsion technology is advancing very rapidly today. The energy density of aircraft fuel is about 12.7 kWh/kg, while current battery energy density can only reach 0.5 kWh/kg—a huge gap. But progress can be made step by step, starting with small aircraft. According to media reports, the American all-electric aircraft Cessna 208B completed its maiden flight at Moses Lake on June 28, 2020, carrying 5 passengers over 160 km, powered by magniX's Magni500 system. The project plans to carry 9 passengers over 160 km in 2021. Compared with gasoline engines, electric propulsion systems offer great economic advantages, consuming only $6 of electricity in 30 minutes.
In early June this year, the European aviation regulatory authority issued the world's first certification to an all-electric two-seat trainer aircraft named Velis Electro. It was produced by Pipistrel Aircraft, a leading electric aircraft manufacturer, clearing obstacles for electric aircraft to enter commercial flight. The company expects to produce 31 aircraft this year, while orders exceed 120, mainly from flight schools. To reduce the aircraft's net weight, the electric aircraft uses as much aluminum as possible, and can be said to be all-aluminum. Apart from the aircraft structure being made of aluminum alloy, the battery system is also almost entirely made of aluminum.
Now, large aircraft manufacturers in China, Europe, and the United States are all chasing the Holy Grail in this field—replacing carbon-emitting large aircraft with new-energy aircraft. This is a vast blue ocean for the future application of aviation aluminum. Aluminum processing plants should work with aircraft companies to develop the application of aluminum materials in future electric aircraft, and not miss this great opportunity.